Uneasiness feeling spread throughout her body at seeing her mother like this. Maria took a deep breath, wanting to calm her chaos down.
" Mom is everything okay" Maria repeat, trying to catch a hint or some emotion on her mother face. she wanted to know why was her mother behaving strangely for the past couple of days.
Eleanor tried to get her heart beating under control." Yes, sweetheart, I-". she tried to say. She told herself, "It's okay. It's okay. Isn't like she will leave me forever, will she?"
Terrible thought races into the mind and her fingers started to turn white from griping them to tight.
Looking at her mother shuttering like this, Maria realizes that her mother was hiding something, and know whatever it was, it was essential.
Observing her mother hesitating and staying frozen in one spot, Maria got up from the bed and walked toward her mother until she stood in front of her.
Eleanor took a deep breath to calm down and gather her courage. She decided to come clean to why she was here.
However, she opened her mouth saying something else entirely different.
"Yes- I- I- was just-just want to " replied her mother, while thoughts started to spin in circles. Her vision blurred, she tried to hide her teary eyes.
M- may be, I should tell her the truth tomorrow, tomorrow! Lying to her once again, and covering up the truth, she said to herself; tomorrow, tomorrow will be the day I will tell her the truth.
As if something changed, she tried to mask her emotion, but unfortunately for her, Maria could see through her actions. Her sad gaze could pierce the soul; whether it was the light's reflection or the heart's cry, Maria could not tell.
"Hm?" Maria tried to talk to her mother. Despite, her mother avoiding her gaze.
Her mother gazed at her, and Maria could tell it was heartfelt, loving one.
Eleanor said to Maria, "listen, listen clearly, for I, Eleanor Kael, love you my daughter, Maria Kael, from the bottom of my soul and nothing can change that."
Maria's eyes widened, and she smiled back at mother as Eleanor came and picked her after a long time. She gently lay Maria into her bed and the wrapped the blanket around.
Finally, she kissed Maria forehead, good night.
Once again, Maria's eyes met with the most piercing saddening gaze, and her heart clenched.
"Good night, Maria," Eleanor said, as she glanced one last time before exiting the room.
Eleanor had left, a frozen girl in time, frozen in her confused mind, for that her gut's told her, her mother wanted to say more. She longed to tell her something. She would feel it through her bones; there was more.
She gazed into the gloomy room, before fading her thoughts into the darkness.
-----
On the other side, after Eleanor left her room, she had gone to her place.
Gently laying down beside Nixon, she smiled sadly, and whispered, "Is it all right to keep something hidden? If the secret is harmful to all the party?"
To her surprise, tiny sleepy eyes started innocently back at her, whispered, "Yes."
Even though. she knew she should be mad at Nixon for staying up late, the words brought great comfort to her soul. The thought, that another soul agreed with her, made her feel that decision, she was about to undertake, wouldn't be bad.
So, she smiled back and replied teasingly "Go to sleep Nixon" as she kissed his forehead goodnight.
As Nixon drifted to sleep, Eleanor's eyes stared at the ceiling, she had gathered her thought and made her decision. To her, it becomes clear.
Moreover, right there, she stopped her thoughts and told herself; what one doesn't know, should remain in the dark. If she doesn't know, it won't kill her. She is my daughter, and that's destiny decision, so who am I to try to change it?
As thoughts clouded her head, she knew deep down, the secrets she's hiding is deceptive, but, also knew, that was going to be the path she has chosen to take.